True value: high end reels vs $100 combos

I have a Bass Pro Pro Qualifier baitcaster. It’s a perfectly serviceable reel. It’s noticeably less smooth than my Revo SX and Curado. My SLX is a better overall reel. I feel like there are a lot of great reels at the $100-$150 price point

As far as rods are concerned, the Bass Pro Carbon lite rods I think are fantastic. I’ve got a MH casting and a 6’ lite action spinning that I have on my panfish lite tackle rig. I caught an insane deal on Castaway Skeleton V2 rods last year and got three for $79/ each. I’m a big fan of Castaway.

I’ve got a friend that’s big into G Loomis rods. It’s nice but damn spending $300 on a rod.

Having just gotten into trying throwing a fly rod, I can understand why the quality of the rod makes a difference. But for 99.9% of your average recreational fishermen, a $300 rod to throw a spinner bait is a little absurd.

I'm battling this same issue with my teenage son. He loves fishing and has so for a very long time. He watches videos and reads blogs every day and belongs to a few groups on the web.

Anyway, he's lately been pushing for more expensive stuff. I finally caved and got him a $90 rod and some fancy $180 Shimano reel to reward him for good grades. He points out to me often what makes them so good and I don't really get it.

I've caught alot of fish on $10 and $20 rods. Reels I spend about $30 on. I like the Shimano Sienna and used the TX back in the day when those were made. If I break one of these pieces of gear I don't even care and just grab another I have lieing around. Rods get stepped on and bounced around so much in the boat that I'd cringe to think about having $300 wrapped up in one.

There's a sucker born everyday and the difference between a $30 and a $60 reel isn't that much and screw spending $300 on one

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Hey, to each his own, but are the high end rods/reels really THAT much better?

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Yes/no, it honestly depends on what you want out of it. Look at it like bicycles, does the average dude really gain that much performance from buying a $800 bike versus a $3000 bike? Probably not but he'll tell people it makes a difference.


A couple years ago I bought a bunch(7 to be exact) of the Shimano Antares, they were normally $599.99 but because they were left handed and never sold Academy had them marked down to $99. They were great and the smoothest reels I've ever handled but at the end of the day they weren't ~$450 more performance out of them than the Shimano Curados, especially after they put the microteeth gear in the K models. I ended up selling them all on Ebay and got about $400 a piece for them. To someone who fishes professionally or a hell of alot more than I do they may have been great but they were overkill for what I was doing. Hell at one point I was going out with about $2500 worth of rods and reels in a $600 kayak

All I know is I'll take my $100 Shimano SLX reels over my 300$ reels any day.

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Look at it like bicycles, does the average dude really gain that much performance from buying a $800 bike versus a $3000 bike? Probably not but he'll tell people it makes a difference.

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I feel personally attacked

Depending on what type of fishing you are doing, rods are probably much more important than reels. Having said that, better reels usually offer more durability and are longer lasting. The differences may be too intricate for most to notice but if you have the money then why not get the best gear out there. Part of the fun is being a gear junkie.

Depending on my intended use fresh/salt water.

Saltwater:
1. High quality reel $200 range more than that I can’t justify it.
2. Tough and durable rod. I don’t care about sensitivity as much, just something tough.

Freshwater:
1. Nice budget reel in the $75-$115 range
2. More of my money goes to better rods. I need a rod with much more feel and bait specific action than in saltwater.

That’s just what I do and has worked out pretty well for me.